WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued proposed regulations (Text | PDF) to provide an important building block to nuclear nonproliferation policy. The proposed regulations implement the provisions of the Protocol Additional to the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Agreement, which expands safeguards to the entire nuclear fuel-cycle.

“The United States remains committed to stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce Christopher Wall. “BIS’s proposed regulations will provide the IAEA with information and access to industries engaged in nuclear fuel-cycle activities in a manner that fulfills our treaty obligations while ensuring that national security and sensitive information remains protected. ”

Companies engaged in activities subject to the Additional Protocol Regulations will provide BIS with annual reports, which will be transmitted to the IAEA, and will be subject to complementary access by IAEA inspectors. Subject activities include:

Uranium mining;

Certain nuclear-related equipment manufacturing;

Exports and imports of nuclear-related equipment and nuclear-related non-nuclear material; and

Civil nuclear fuel cycle-related research and development activities not involving nuclear material.

The public has until Monday, August 25, 2008, to provide comments on the proposed rule.

BACKGROUND

BIS works to advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and by promoting continued U.S. strategic technology leadership.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published regulations to implement the provisions of the Protocol Additional to the U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which expands safeguards to the entire nuclear fuel-cycle.

“Implementation of the Additional Protocol Regulations demonstrates the U.S. Government’s commitment to a comprehensive strategy to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Administration Christopher R. Wall. “We will work with affected U.S. companies and research institutions to establish their compliance with the Additional Protocol while minimizing their burdens and protecting their proprietary information.”

Companies engaged in activities subject to the Additional Protocol Regulations must provide BIS with annual reports, which will be transmitted to the IAEA, and will be subject to complementary access by IAEA inspectors. Subject activities include:

Uranium mining;

Certain nuclear-related equipment manufacturing;

Exports and imports of nuclear-related equipment and nuclear-related non-nuclear material; and

Civil nuclear fuel cycle-related research and development activities not involving nuclear material.

Initial reports are due to BIS on November 30, 2008. To assist industry to comply with the new regulations, BIS unveiled a new Web site ( www.ap.gov ) dedicated to U.S. implementation of the Additional Protocol.

BACKGROUND

BIS works to advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and by promoting continued U.S. strategic technology leadership.